Introduction
Many times, patients come to us with liver function blood test reports, and if there is anything wrong in the report, they panic. They think that their liver is not functioning properly and assume they have liver disorder symptoms.
Today, we will discuss how liver function test is done. So, whenever we need to check if there is any swelling in the liver or if it is functioning properly, we conduct two tests – the liver function test and the fibro scan. The liver function test is a blood test, which we perform under fasting conditions. After this, a 2-3 mL sample is taken, which is then sent to the lab.
When Do We Conduct Liver Function Tests?
Now, let’s understand when we conduct liver function tests.
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Screening Test
If we need to diagnose liver disease in the initial stages, we should perform a liver function test. For example, some people are diabetic, obese, or consume alcohol, and these patients are at risk of developing liver disease. Therefore, these patients should undergo liver function tests on time.
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Existing Liver Problems
The second condition is if the patient already has liver problems, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, fatty liver, or liver damage due to alcohol consumption, we perform regular tests for these patients.
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Drug-Induced Liver Injury
The third condition is drug-induced liver injury. Some patients take medications that increase the risk of liver damage, such as TB medication. TB medications can affect the liver in some patients, so we also monitor these patients through regular liver function tests.
Types of Liver Diseases
Before understanding liver function tests, we need to understand how many types of liver diseases affect the liver. There are mainly three types of diseases that can occur in the liver.
- Inflammation (Hepatitis)
Acute Hepatitis:
Acute hepatitis means sudden swelling in the liver. In these patients, there may be fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, and later, jaundice. The main causes of acute hepatitis are hepatitis A and hepatitis E viruses. In some patients, acute hepatitis can also be caused by the hepatitis B virus.
Chronic Hepatitis:
Chronic inflammation, known as chronic hepatitis, is primarily caused by hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and alcohol consumption (alcoholic hepatitis). Another condition is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Besides these, there are other conditions that can lead to chronic hepatitis, such as autoimmune hepatitis, where the body produces antibodies that start damaging the liver. If there is excess copper in the liver, it is called Wilson’s disease, and if there is too much iron in the liver, it is known as hemochromatosis. Both of these conditions can cause inflammation in the liver, and if left untreated, they can eventually lead to liver cirrhosis.
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Biliary Tract Obstruction
The liver’s job is to produce bile, which helps in digesting food. The bile produced in the liver travels through the bile ducts into the small intestine, where it assists in digesting food. If there is an obstruction in the bile duct, it could be due to a stone or a tumour. In such a condition, the patient may develop jaundice, fever, or itching. For effective bile duct obstruction treatment, consult the best gastroenterologist in Delhi.
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Infiltrative Liver Disease
Infiltrative liver diseases, such as tuberculosis, liver lymphoma, or sarcoidosis, involve infiltration within the liver, which can impact its function.